Orlen Wind 3 has entered a preliminary agreement with EDP Renewables Polska to acquire photovoltaic (PV) projects with a combined capacity of 280 MWp, along with a 26 MW wind farm in Poland. The wind farm is located in the Province of Łódź, while the solar sites are situated in the Provinces of Zielona Góra and Poznań.
The transaction, valued at approximately PLN 1.15 billion (€0.26 billion), is one of the largest deals in terms of installed capacity within the Polish renewable energy sector, Orlen stated. Upon completion, this acquisition will boost Orlen Group's renewable generation capacity by nearly 30%.
Ireneusz Fąfara, chief executive and president of the management board of Orlen, highlighted the significance of the deal, stating, “This new agreement will add over 300MW to our renewable energy portfolio, which is nearly a third of what we've built in renewables over the recent years. But it's not just about the scale – this deal also makes strong economic sense for us and offers a real chance of enhancing the Orlen Group's value.”
The agreement encompasses the purchase of two solar PV farms. The first, located in the village of Chotków in the County of Żagań, Province of Zielona Góra, was commissioned in January 2024. Covering 45 hectares and featuring over 61,000 solar panels, it has a total capacity of 40 MWp. The farm is designed to minimize environmental impact, allowing the free movement of small animals through appropriately raised fencing.
The second PV farm is situated on a former lignite strip-mine in the municipality of Przykona, Province of Poznań. The Orlen Group already operates several solar and wind power assets nearby with a total capacity of 57 MW, and further units totaling approximately 68 MW are under development. The acquired PV farm currently has a capacity of 200 MWp, with an expansion project to add another 40 MWp by the end of the year. Once the additional capacity is operational, it will be the largest solar PV farm in Poland, with Orlen Group as its sole owner.
Additionally, the agreement includes the acquisition of the Warta onshore wind farm, built in May 2023, located west of Sieradz in the Province of Łódź. Comprising 13 turbines capable of generating 26 MW, the site benefits from high wind intensity, ensuring optimal utilization of the installed capacity, Orlen noted.
“Our goal is to be a key player in Central and Eastern Europe's energy transition. That's why we're not stopping here, actively looking for further attractive projects on the renewable energy market to seize every business opportunity that comes our way,” Fąfara added.
